20 
GREAT CROPS OF STRAWBERRIES AND HOW TO GROW THEM 
R. M. Kellogg Co., Three Rivers, Mich. 
i VVO ACRES OF THOROUGHBREDS AT TULARE, CALIFORNIA 
npniS is a scene in the strawberry fields of J H. Shirk, of Tulare, California. Mr. Shirk wrote April 5, 1910, saying that he 
should pick 30,000 quarts from this field. "We counted," he writes, "210 berries and many blooms on one vine of Brandy- 
wine, 187 berries on one of Klondike, and 190 on one vine of Excelsior. These are all from your strain of Thoroughbred plants." 
most practical one, and should be followed 
by those who have difficulty in eradicating 
this pest. 
Preparing for Second Crop 
THE time to do this work is immediately 
after the first crop is picked. The first 
step is to mow off the vines. This may 
be done with a mowing machine, a scythe or 
a cycle, depending upon the size of the field 
or patch. Then loosen up the mulch all over 
the field so that it will burn very rapidly. 
Now go to the windward side of the field, 
and set the fire going. Almost before you 
realize it the work will be done. We have 
burned over five acres in fifteen minutes. 
Not only will the field be rid of all refuse 
matter, but all insects and fungous spores, if 
any be present, will be destroyed, and you 
will start off the second season with a new 
and perfectly clean lot of plants. Bear in 
mind, that if the plants and mulching are 
very wet they should not be burned; also if 
the weather for a long time has been dry, so 
that the earth about the plants also is dry, 
as in either case there would be danger of 
burning and thus destroying the plants. 
Narrowing Down the Rows 
■fiyHETHER you decide to burn over or to 
'''' haul the mulching and refuse off the 
field, the next step is to narrow down the 
rows. This will best be done by taking a 
common breaking plow and throwing a fur- 
row from each side of the row into the cen- 
ter, leaving a ridge that may be leveled down 
or thrown back to place by a five-tooth cul- 
tivator. After the cultivator has done its 
work, a reversible harrow, with the teeth 
thrown slightly backward, drawn across the 
rows will level them nicely. It also will draw 
the fine soil over the crowns and bury them 
completely. This is important, because after 
the plants have fruited the old roots are wiry 
and almost lifeless, and by thus covering the 
crowns a new root system is encouraged. 
This will develop' just above the old roots 
and beneath the crown of the plant. 
Choosing and Cultivating Second-crop Plants 
l^ITHIN an incredibly short time the 
* • plants, whether they have been burned 
or only plowed over, will come up through 
the soil, and, as soon as you are able to dis- 
tinguish the stronger from the weaker plants, 
they should be gone through with the hoe 
and the poorer ones cut out, leaving only 
those which give evidence of being strong 
and healthy. These are to be the mother 
plants of a second generation, and it is high- 
ly important that they have the required 
strength and fruiting power to produce a big 
second crop. These mother plants should be 
about sixteen inches apart in the row, and 
each should be allowed to make the .number 
